A new Hawai'i law makes the state a nationwide leader in addressing climate change.

The Global Warming Solutions Act establishes a state policy to get Hawai'i's greenhouse gas emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020 — a major undertaking.

The Legislature's position on the issue — it passed the measure by overwhelming bipartisan margins in both houses — is unequivocal: "Human communities are ... threatened by climate change ... The scientific evidence is now compelling that recent climate change is caused at least in part by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, which has driven atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations to their highest levels in 420,000 years" (See a copy at www.capitol .hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent /bills/hb226_cd1_.htm).

The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism has until the end of next year to update a list of all sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

The state Department of Health will be responsible for enacting rules to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

A 10-member Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Task Force will have four members from business, two state department heads, two University of Hawai'i representatives and two environmental group members. The task force will have until the end of 2009 to develop a plan for "maximum practically and technically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions."

The task force is to deliver to the 2010 Legislature its plan, including proposals for regulation, for accomplishing the reduction — giving the scheme 10 years to roll back emissions 20 years.

It's a challenging goal, but Sierra Club Hawai'i director Jeff Mikulina, a strong supporter, lauded the effort in a released statement.

"Enactment of the Global Warming Solutions Act heralds a new era in Hawai'i's history. This law will require that Hawai'i begin the transition away from dirty, imported fossil fuel sources and to clean, indigenous supplies of energy," he said.

Hawai'i is the second state to pass such a cap. California passed one in September of last year, also rolling back 2020 emissions to 1990. Oregon, New Jersey and Washington have passed or are in the process of passing similar legislation.

The state will have a range of targets for approaching this issue, including conservation, alternative energy programs, more efficient power generation, reducing motor vehicle emissions, controls on the fertilizing and burning of agricultural fields and lots more.

If you have a question or concern about the Hawaiian environment, drop a note to Jan TenBruggencate at P.O. Box 524, Lihu'e, HI 96766 or jant@honoluluadvertiser.com. Or call him at (808) 245-3074.